"Dear Mariposilla," I said, remembering the tactics that I sometimes employed with Marjorie; "you must not think because the Virgin refuses to smile that she is angry.
"We ourselves cannot smile. We are sad and awed by the presence of death, and surely it would be heartless for 'our Lady' to smile, when those who love and trust her are in trouble.
"You are nervous and weary. You shall room with me to-night. I have already prepared you a nice bed upon my couch."
I drew her gently in the direction of my room, persuaded that I had quieted for a time her moody fears.
"No! no!" she cried, bursting away from me; "I can not sleep. I will never sleep again."
She rushed, passionately, through the open door into the moonlight. In her bare feet, clad only in her flowing nightgown, she stood like a spirit among the dark vines and lacy shadows of the old veranda.
Her hair fell about her shoulders like a tragic veil, while a sudden agony touched her young, white face.
"You know not what I have suffered," she sobbed. "You think I shall forget, but I never shall. I can not bear that he should not be mine."
"If only he had gone away like my grandmother, I could endure never to see him again. He would then be mine! all mine, and I could go joyfully into a convent and pray always for his soul."
From the corner of the house a tall, dark form was approaching.
"Come in quickly," I whispered; "Arturo is listening."
She obeyed me now, sinking wearily, as we entered my room, upon the waiting couch.
I was devoutly thankful when I believed her to be sleeping.
She had scarcely stirred for nearly an hour, and I told myself, wearily, that I, too, might perhaps catch a little rest. The day had been a perpetual strain. I was not expecting or intending to sleep soundly, but I felt a merciful relief in lying quietly by the side of Marjorie.
For the night, at least, Mariposilla was safe. I could only hope that the morrow would dawn more tranquilly than the trying day now, at last, over.
After the funeral, I intended to go immediately to Catalina with Marjorie and Mariposilla. I would wait no longer; the heartbroken child must leave San Gabriel at once.
I was arranging my plans most carefully, when I fell asleep from absolute exhaustion.